RACK on Rudolph Days

[candysprinkles]

Next year I am wanting to add a little spark to Rudolph Days. Pinterest has tons of lists for random acts of kindness and Random Acts of Christmas Kindness. I was thinking it would be nice to try to add an act of kindness to each month on or around Rudolph Day; just to bring more Christmas spirit to the day. It would bring a chance to add some of my favorite parts of the holiday season...gifts, giving, surprises, helping those in need, etc. to each month. I just thought I'd share in case anyone wants to join me in this adventure. We could use this thread to post ideas, links, etc for the RACKs.

 

[Lana]

Very nice idea!

 

[Ahorsesoul]

That would be a great addition to Rudy Day.

 

[ejagno]

I think this is a fantastic idea.

 

[teachermomof2]

Very nice idea!

 

[luludou]

Great idea! I wanted to start a journal (with art & such) for Rudy day & add to it what I plan to do each Rudy day. A RACK would be a welcome addition to it all.

 

[AnnieClaus]

I'm liking this idea!!

Annie

 

[Miss JoDee]

Love the idea. Let's do it!

 

[candysprinkles]

Awesome. Glad some of you are interested. I have been thinking about some ideas for each month. I want to try to do something seasonally appropriate. Here's a starter list I'm working on...definitely nothing set in stone yet.


January: Warmth-hot cocoa, scarf, gloves, a blanket
February: Love-hearts, chocolate, candy, candles ETA: Hershey's hugs and kisses might work
March: Luck- lottery tickets, something green?
April: Easter Blessings?
May: Flowers, Marvelous Moms
June: Surprise for random Deserving Dads or Greatest Grads, or maybe stressed brides
July: Stars & Stripes something for a soldier
August: Back to School. Teachers? Coaches? Scout Leaders? etc.
September: ??? Stockpile items for a local shelter?
October: Think Pink? You've been Booed?
November: Attitude of Gratitude, Veterans
December: Secret Santa...really secret. surprise, random, without ever revealing whodunnit.

January could be pretty simple. Box of hot cocoa, possibly even in a mug. Or individual packets of hot cocoa with a card or tag that mentions what a RACK is and suggests to pass on the kindness.

 

[candysprinkles]

Found this on RACK the World's FB page:

From the National PTA's website, "When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as many unique snowflakes as possible. We encourage senders to be as creative as possible, remembering that no two snowflakes are alike. Please make and send snowflakes by January 12, 2013 to the Connecticut PTSA address below."

Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514

 

[candysprinkles]

Some more ideas from RACK the World

There are many ways to RACK someone, but here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. leave a quarter at a bouncy ball/toy vending machine
2. leave a roll or bag of coins on riding toys at the store [ie. Sandy at Meijer]
3. pay for someone’s meal behind you at a drive-through and hand the RACK’d card to the attendant to pass on to them
4. buy or pack a meal for a homeless person
5. thank a mail carrier, store clerk or greeter, librarian, garbage collector, service volunteer, babysitter, hair dresser, bank teller, etc. with an anonymous note or treat
6. leave candy canes under windshield wipers [or on ATM machines, mailboxes, etc]
7. buy hot cocoa for a Salvation Army bell ringer
8. give a lottery ticket to a stranger
9. distribute homemade hot chocolate [check allrecipes for an easy recipe that makes 45 servings]
10. leave packets of tea in co-workers mailboxes
11. buy coffee for the person in line behind you
12. donate [to the Children’s Hospital, the animal shelter, a toy collection location, etc]
13. send or deliver handmade cards to a nursing home
14. donate new or used books to the library or school
15. send a card or care package to someone serving overseas
16. put change in a row of vending machines
17. make dinner for someone
18. put something you no longer need on Craigslist’s FREE section
19. leave a bag of groceries on someone’s doorstep
20. open the phone book, pick someone anonymously and send them something [movie tickets, book, lotto ticket, card, etc]
21. participate in Postcards for Positivity by sending a positive message to women and children staying in emergency shelters
22. take flowers to the hospital and leave them for someone who hasn’t had recent visitors
23. put together a care package for the homeless [toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, doed, snacks, gloves, socks, etc]
24. hand a passerby a goody bag and continue walking
25. leave a small wrapped gift in a grocery cart [possibly a small toy or packages of animal crackers in the kids carts, to help ease the trip for mom]
26. ‘ding dong ditch’ your neighbors with fresh baked goods or holiday trinkets
27. shovel someone’s driveway and leave the RACK’d card on their door
28. send a box of donuts or bagels or muffins to a construction site
29. leave coupons at the grocery store by the item, along with the RACK’d card to prevent them from being thrown away
30. donate items to charity [and maybe leave $ in the pocket]
31. bring ‘Lifesavers’ or another treat to the police or fire station
32. leave muffins or other treats in the teacher’s lounge
33. hand out helium balloons to kids
34. take a person who’s working on Christmas Eve [ie a pharmacist or farm employee] something special
35. leave something [treats, books, magazines, crosswords, games, cards, coloring pages and crayons, etc] for those in a hospital waiting room
36. leave a pack of microwave popcorn on a movie machine for the next person
37. give late night workers instant coffee packs
38. tape $1 bills [plus a dime for tax?] behind toys at the Dollar Tree
39. donate blood
40. leave your server a special tip
41. buy your check-out person a gift card
42. encouraging chalk art [at schools, downtown, etc]
43. leave a bottle of laundry detergent [quarters and dryer sheets work too] at a laundromat with a 'use me' sign [easy, cheap recipes available to make in bulk]
44. make dog treats for furry friends or drop them off at an animal shelter or veterinary office
45. organize a drive [for a local pantry, hospital, charity, etc] with your class, school, work, neighborhood, church, family, etc.
46. pay the toll for the person behind you

 

[candysprinkles]

Think I'm off to start a new RACK board on Pinterest. Here's a pic of hot cocoa favors I found for inspiration. http://www.beau-coup.com/holiday-co...easale&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shareasale

I found some other versions that were more like an envelope and/or more like a tag.

 

[luludou]

My Pinterest board for those is called 'Good Deeds'
http://pinterest.com/MsLucie/good-deeds/

 

[kringle]

I really love this idea! Thank you for putting this up.
Lucie- I'm your newest follower. Great board!

 

[candysprinkles]

I started a Pinterest board called Random Acts of Christmas Kindness. Same User name as here. Right now a lot of people are doing #26Acts in honor of the Sandy Hook kids. I think I will send snowflakes like they are requesting. One year I made enough for snowflake garland using Martha's tutorial and some others online. I thing i still have at least a dozen. But...there have been SO many shootings in the past few weeks and months!! (Movie theatre, schools, churches, fire fighters, police stations etc) I was thinking I might do some acts of kindness at all of those places in and around my community. Be the good in the world. Pass it on!

 

[sweetpumkinpye]

Loving the ideas on here. Thanks candysprinkles.

 

[Christmaslvr]

LOVE this idea!

 

[snickerdoodle]

I think this is really a great idea. Love it!

 

[halimer]

Really lovely idea/s!

 

[ChristmasRose]

Now this is something that I could get interested in. I'm sorry to say that, over the past year or so, this site has felt a bit clannish and unwelcoming, for some reason, and I've felt like an intruder. Haven't been on here for awhile, but I'm glad I came on and found this. Seems most appropriate at this time. Thanks, candysprinkles.